Zambia Under-23 National team head coach Oswald Mutapa has named a strong 45 provisional squad ahead of next months 2023 TotalEnergies Morocco U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
Mutapa has included England born Manchester City U-18 defender Jadel Katongo, Italy based defensive midfielder Manah Chiwisa.
Mutampa has also named tricky winger Lameck Banda, Crotia based duo of Peter Chikola and Prince Mumba.
England based forward Chanka Zimba has also been handed a call up by Mutapa.
On the local scene, Mutapa has roped in Patrick Chooma, Green Eagles ‘ Shapy Chikondi Njobvu, Amon Chulu of Nkana, Patrick Gondwe, Jimmy Mukeya and Athletico Lusaka duo of Charles Majapa Mumba and Kingston Mutandwa.
The team will enter camp on 18th of September in Lusaka.
Zambia are on bye in the first round and will face Sierra Leone in the second round with the first leg pencilled for the weekend of October 21-23 in Freetown while the return leg will be on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner over two legs will qualify to the final round that will be played in March 2023 where Egypt or the winner between Botswana and Eswatini await.
Egypt, like Zambia, is on bye from the first round of qualifiers with the young pharaohs awaiting the winner between Botswana and Eswatini.
The Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations will be used as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Zambia has never been to the Olympic Games.
U-23 National team Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Chooma (Prison Leopards), Levison Banda (ZESCO United), Jeban Tembo (Red Arrows), Mukuka Chilufya ( Shamuel Academy).
Defenders
John Chishimba (ZESCO United), Issah Kazembe (Indeni ), Andrew Phiri, Emmanuel Bwalya Chembe, Mathews Chabala (All Nchanga Rangers), Kingsley Hakwiya, Christopher Katongo (Kansanshi Dynamos), Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows), Changwe Shikilwa (Power Dynamos), Amon Chulu (Nkana), Mike Taonga Ngulube (Nagweshi), Shapy Chikondi Njobvu (Green Eagles), Miguel Chaiwa ( BSC Young Boys -Switzerland) , Jadel Katongo (Manchester City U-18), Golden Mafwenta (Real Monarch – USA)
Midfielders
Patrick Gondwe (Nkana), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Felix Banda (NAPSA Stars), Muma Mumba (Kafue Eagles), Charles Majapa Mumba (Athletico Lusaka) , Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Chipyoka Songa, Kasona Luwawa (Both ZESCO United), Emmanuel Mukosha (Green Eagles), Adrian Benson Banda, Augustine Katongo (Both Kabwe Warriors), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Red Arrows), Emmanuel Tana Muyangano (FC MUZA), Prince Mumba ( NK Istra 1961- Croatia), Peter Chikola ( HNK Gorica – U19), Mannah Chiwisa (Atalanta U19)
Strikers
Reagan Mtonga (Power Dynamos), Ricky Moses Banda (Red Arrows) , Enock Sakala Jnr (ZESCO United) Jimmy Mukeya (NAPSA Stars) , Jonathan Munalula (Forest Rangers), Derrick Bulaya (Green Eagles), Kingston Mutandwa (Athletico Lusaka), Lameck Banda (US Lecce – Italy), Chanka Zimba (Newport County – England)
Please Zamfoot are you sure Zambia has never qualified to the Olympics, dont you remember the Seol Olympics (88) when Zambia thumped Italy 4-0 courtesy of a Kalusha Bwalya hartrick
Miguel chaiwa is a must for u
How about Ntazana Mayembe? This lad and the Malumo boy in the UK have already played for Zambia at age group level and as for Ntazana he even traveled and played for Zambia in those friendlies when Zambia went to West Africa against Sadio Mane led Senegal and i believe Benin when Micho was in charge.
if we are serious about continuity and progress explain why you leave the Ntazana boy who has featured in and camped with the senior Chipolopolo in the last year.
Zambia has actually qualified for the Olympics more than once. 1980 USSR/Russia Olympics and also 1988 South Korea/Seoul Olympics. May even in the later years, the teams we had were strong.
Mmmm they have left some best players abroad and local